Meloni government sets postwar longevity record

Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government on Friday became the longest-lasting in Italy's postwar history, surpassing the record set by Silvio Berlusconi between 2001 and 2005, according to France 24. The government has now been in power for 1,413 days, a notable achievement in a country that has seen 68 governments in the last 80 years.

When she took office in 2022, many European allies viewed Meloni with unease given her party's neo-fascist roots, France 24 reported. Yet she has governed pragmatically, working within EU institutions and maintaining a pro-NATO stance, which has reassured international partners while complicating her domestic political position.

The longevity record comes as Italy approaches elections next year, and analysts quoted by France 24 attribute Meloni's success to a combination of '50% savvy political tactics, 50% extraordinarily good luck.' The challenges ahead, however, include a rising far-right challenger and the need to balance her coalition's internal tensions.

The record was confirmed as France 24 noted that Meloni, Italy's first female Prime Minister, has defied initial expectations of instability. Her government's survival stands in contrast to the rapid turnover that has characterized Italian politics since the war, with the country cycling through dozens of administrations in the postwar period.

The milestone is shadowed by the rise of Roberto Vannacci, leader of the Futuro Nazionale party, whose rapid climb in opinion polls poses questions about whether Meloni will return to her roots before the election, according to the Guardian. Vannacci's far-right challenge threatens to split the conservative vote and pressure Meloni from her right flank.

Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, told France 24 that Meloni's formula for success has blended political skill with good fortune. The analysis suggests that her pragmatic governance within EU institutions has won her credibility abroad, even as it may alienate some of her base at home.

From the Estero perspective, Italy's political stability matters beyond its borders. A government that has lasted this long provides continuity in EU and NATO councils, where Italy plays a significant role in Mediterranean migration policy and European defense discussions. The coming election, and the challenge from Vannacci, will determine whether that stability endures or gives way to renewed fragmentation.

The Guardian reported that Vannacci's rise represents a genuine dilemma for Meloni, who must decide whether to tack right to counter the challenge or maintain her centrist governing approach. The outcome will shape Italy's posture in European affairs, where Meloni has positioned herself as a constructive, if hard-right, partner.